ID :
142623
Sun, 09/19/2010 - 09:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/142623
The shortlink copeid
UNTREATED SCHIZOPHRENICS HAVE FOUR TIMES HIGHER POTENTIAL TO COMMIT CRIME
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Schizophrenics or persons with mental disorders who fail to get any treatment have a four times higher potential to commit crimes than the ones receiving continuous treatment, said Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Dr Abdul Kadir Abu Bakar.
He said, in fact, schizophrenics who received treatment for their illness, had
the lowest potential to commit crime, even lower than normal people.
"So, patients with mental disorders should be given proper and continuous
treatment because it will help stabilise their minds and emotions as well as
reduce their aggressive and compulsive behaviour.
"This, inadvertently, will reduce their tendencies to commit crimes," he told a
press conference in conjunction with Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2010 here
Saturday.
Dr Abdul Kadir said among schizophrenic patients, young men had the
highest potential to commit crime, but with continuous treatment, the patients could
recover with a success rate of 80 per cent.
He said about 2,000 people were diagnosed with schizophrenia every year.
"The incident rate from all over the world is about 15 to 40 schizophrenics for
every 100,000 people. So if we calculate, even at the lowest incident rate, we
are still missing about 2,000 people with schizophrenia, who are undetected," he
said.
Dr Abdul Kadir said family and community intervention were vital to make sure
the patients continue taking their medication as the rate of relapse was less
than one per cent with the involvement of the family.
Earlier, member of Mental Health Promotion Advisory Council Lee Lam Thye
received the Pinel Award 2010 for pioneering a mental healthcare project, while
reporters Noor Fazrina Kamal of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, Kasmiah Mustapha
(New Straits Times) and Lim Cho Noi (Chinese daily Sin Chew Daily) each received
the Press Award.
-- BERNAMA
He said, in fact, schizophrenics who received treatment for their illness, had
the lowest potential to commit crime, even lower than normal people.
"So, patients with mental disorders should be given proper and continuous
treatment because it will help stabilise their minds and emotions as well as
reduce their aggressive and compulsive behaviour.
"This, inadvertently, will reduce their tendencies to commit crimes," he told a
press conference in conjunction with Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2010 here
Saturday.
Dr Abdul Kadir said among schizophrenic patients, young men had the
highest potential to commit crime, but with continuous treatment, the patients could
recover with a success rate of 80 per cent.
He said about 2,000 people were diagnosed with schizophrenia every year.
"The incident rate from all over the world is about 15 to 40 schizophrenics for
every 100,000 people. So if we calculate, even at the lowest incident rate, we
are still missing about 2,000 people with schizophrenia, who are undetected," he
said.
Dr Abdul Kadir said family and community intervention were vital to make sure
the patients continue taking their medication as the rate of relapse was less
than one per cent with the involvement of the family.
Earlier, member of Mental Health Promotion Advisory Council Lee Lam Thye
received the Pinel Award 2010 for pioneering a mental healthcare project, while
reporters Noor Fazrina Kamal of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, Kasmiah Mustapha
(New Straits Times) and Lim Cho Noi (Chinese daily Sin Chew Daily) each received
the Press Award.
-- BERNAMA
